Dehumanization In Jane Eyre

As a feminist, Jane is able to protect herself when she is in a situation where she needs to be defended. For instance, when her brutish older cousin John hurls a hardcover book at her head, she pounces back by attacking him in defense. She also faces no difficulty in successfully defeating her cold-hearted aunt in a verbal fight, just at the tender age of ten. Jane is surely unafraid of the consequences that she has to face on actions that she believes as rightfully done. This amazing trait remains even as she proceeds into adulthood and meets the love of her life. She is able to deal with, and even stand up to Mr. Rochester’s unreasonable verbal attacks directed at her. She clearly shows her dauntless side of her personality, by speaking her own mind when Mr. Rochester demands for the money that he had given her. Jane refuses clear cut, and Mr. Rochester asks to then at least let him see the cash. Jane refuses again by retorting that he is “not to be trusted.” Jane has an honest and truthful soul who knows how to speak for herself, unlike many women during this period of time. Jane is never concerned about what other people would think of her if she tells them the exact truth about everything. She is able to inform her departure by cancelling off the wedding between herself and Mr. Rochester after what she had witnessed and experienced. Jane cries out “you are a married man-or as good as a married man, and wed to one inferior to you- to one with whom you have no sympathy- whom I do not believe you truly love; for I have seen and heard you sneer at her. I would scorn such a union: therefore I am better than you- let me go!” Jane is able to truthfully utter her thoughts, her true opinion without being afraid; even if it was to someone she dearly loved. When Mr. Rochester angrily cries out, “Jane, be still; don’t struggle so, like a wild frantic bird that is rending its own plumage in its

Jane in her younger years was practically shunned by everyone and was shown very little love and compassion, from this throughout her life she searches for these qualities through those around her. Due to Jane’s mother’s disinheritance she was disowned by Mrs. Reed and her children, and was treated like a servant consistently reminded that she lacked position and wealth.

In the first few opening chapters Jane Eyre is seen as a mentally and physically abused child, during her years at Gateshead Hall. John Reed displays violence towards Jane in the first chapter. He punishes and bullies Jane; it is not known why the Reed family resent her so much. Her situation is seen as desperate within the first few paragraphs. Her cousins and Aunt make her life impossible and unbearable, she is not seen as a member of the family. Jane is simply seen as ‘’less than a servant’’ as she does ‘’nothing for her keep’’.

Furthermore, this demeaning and negative attitude Jane is exposed to is further instigated when her cousin, John Reed, expresses her situation by saying: "You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us". The truth of Jane's unfortunate situation is expressed against her which results in her feeling no true support from this family and confides only in her childhood nursemaid- Bessie, who although behaves inconsistently and has “a capricious and hasty temper”, is the closest mother figure to her. Furthermore, the friction between Jane and John is further emphasised when the first physical aspect of violence is introduced to the reader through a graphic portrayal, further showing the ultimate rejection Jane experienced

Throughout history and literature, men have been trying to make decisions for women and have also treated women as inferiors. Two books that do a superb job of demonstrating this theme are Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. Jane Eyre, set in the 1800’s, is the story of an orphan girl growing up and becoming a governess. All does not go smoothly when Jane falls in love with the master of the house. Drama ensues in this gothic classic as Jane decides how to handle her situation. The Good Earth, on the other hand, follows the life of Wang Lung from a young adult to a grandfather. Along the way, Wang Lung marries O-lan and together they

Mrs.Reed and John Reed abuse her physically and vocally as shown (Brontë,5)when John Reed hits her and she stands up for herself by talking back saying, “You are like a murderer- you are like a slave-driver- You are like the Roman emperors”. With time Jane grew and from those experiences had the strength to forgive those who hurt her most in her childhood, by doing so she came closer to her final and best self. After Gateshead she transitions to Lowood. Faced with humiliation and poor living conditions, Jane is faced with a different kind of personal test, one that she is not prepared for.

At the novel's opening, Jane is living with the cruel Mrs. Reed and her horrid three children, Eliza, Georgiana, and John. Mrs. Reed makes her distaste for Jane very evident in all of her actions. She forbids her to play with her (Mrs. Reed's) children (Jane's own cousins) and falsely accuses her of being a "liar" and of possessing a "mean spirit." Mrs. Reed's attitude is

The only time that a member of the Reed family speaks to Jane is when they are belittling her, hoping to further assert their elite dominance over the lower class. In one particular quarrel, John Reed, the oppressive “Roman emperor” and “slave driver,” throws a book at Jane’s head to physically proclaim his dominance over her, to which Jane responds by verbally firing back at his elitist oppression. (Brontë 13) The battle between the social classes concludes with Jane being banished to the horrifying red-room as punishment for attempting to overthrow the elite power, John Reed, even though John was the clear instigator of the scuffle. Jane is later condemned by the house servants for her attempt to overthrow her “young master.” Jane and John are both children, but due to the wealth and status of his parents, John is allowed to rule over Jane, making Jane, as the Gateshead servants would describe, “‘less than a servant’” because she does nothing for her keep. (Brontë 15) Jane continuously faces this maltreatment at Gateshead until an outburst directed towards Mrs. Reed causes her to be sent away to Lowood school, a place where Mrs. Reed hopes Jane will perhaps be taught to conform to the societal norm of how a young girl like Jane should act in

In this part of the novel, we are introduced to Jane and the Reed family. Jane's time at Gateshead was rather unpleasant, oppressive, and cruel. The Reed family viewed Jane as a nuance and never treated Jane as her own. This can be seen in Chapter 2 when Jane is put in the red room and exclaims, “All John Reed's violent tyrannies, all his sisters' proud indifference, all his mother's aversion, all the servants' partially… Why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, for ever condemned?”

Jane responds passionately when she is exploited due to her position, yet every time Jane reacts this way she is able to explain her actions. When she yells at Mrs. Reed, Jane had perceived that Mrs. Reed had used her social standing as a superior adult to “obliterate [Jane’s] hope” for her future at Lowood. This particular explanation and other internal reflections reason with the reader, inspiring empathy for Jane’s situation. Even Jane’s depiction of the poor farmer’s children conveys Charlotte Brontë’s scorn of the class structure. Despite being illiterate and ill-mannered, the children have potential and they “wish to learn.” Jane’s condescending tone when referring to these children, and her recognition that tone is “wrong,” helps Charlotte Brontë relate to the reader and subtly show them that this innate scorn is ill founded. Furthermore, the characters of the upper classes that grew up with privilege are depicted throughout Jane Eyre as petty or immoral: Mrs. Reed, who is “cold-hearted,” spiteful and incapable of forgiveness; Blanche, who values wealth and status over personal happiness; and Rochester, who tries to trick Jane into a false marriage. All of these characters assist Brontë in disparaging the idea that the upper class is the worthier class. Instead Brontë intimates, through the moral purity and happiness of the less

Before she can become Rochester 's wife, Jane must prove her acceptability based on class. Does she have an upper-class sensibility, despite her inferior position at Thornfield? For example, when Bessie sees Jane at Lowood, she is impressed because Jane has become "quite a lady"; in fact, her accomplishments surpass that of her cousins, yet they are still considered her social superiors based solely on wealth. The conversation emphasizes the ambiguities of Jane 's family 's class status and of the class system in general: Should a lady be judged based on academic accomplishments, money, or family name? The novel critiques the behavior of most of the upper-class characters Jane meets: Blanche Ingram is haughty and superficial, John Reed is debauched, and Eliza Reed is inhumanely cold. Rochester is a primary example of upper-class debauchery, with his series of mistresses and his attempt to make Jane a member of the harem. In her final view of Thornfield, after Bertha has burned it down, Jane

The death of Mr. Reed causes Jane several conflicts and also leads her to isolation and alienation. Firstly, Mrs. Reed sees Jane as a nuisance. An example of this is seen during Jane’s arrival to Gateshead, when Jane is attempting to restore her relationship with Mrs Reed. Mrs. Reed explains that “I have had more trouble with that child than anyone would believe.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, this is an expression in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, that deems we as humans are entitled to and guaranteed as a given right happiness. Nonetheless, each person must determine what makes them happy, and every person’s happiness stems from different reasoning. Happiness, is a state of being, not a place, person, or thing, although one of these might bring one happiness, overall, it is a feeling we encounter. Furthermore, It is our natural instinct to have a longing for happiness, and one typically feels pleased when they believe they have fulfilled their beliefs to reach this emotion. Given that, I personally define “the pursuit of happiness” as knowing that everyone has the right to seek happiness, however, it is our choices that determine if we actually practice happiness.

William Bradford’s writing displays his Puritan faith by including many of their ideals throughout Of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s beliefs give his writing a simple and unembellished style, like that of Puritan dress. Furthermore, He demonstrates his faith by including the Puritan concept of election. Foremost, Bradford displays his faith by incorporating providence into his writing. For example, he infers that their trip across the Atlantic ended safely only through God’s intervention. Throughout Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford exhibits these aspects of his Puritan faith and lifestyle through his simplistic writing style.

Readers learn early in the story that Jane Eyre does not fit contemporary society's idea of a proper woman.  As a child, Jane stands up to her aunt, Mrs. Reed, on more than one recorded occasion when Jane feels she has been treated unjustly (Brontë 28, 37).  At one point, Jane bluntly tells her aunt, "I declare, I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed [Jane's cousin]" (37).  This was at best improper behavior for a child in Victorian society, and it was most definitely seen as improper by Mrs. Reed who grows to hate Jane, calling her "tiresome, ill-conditioned" and "scheming" (26).  But her aunt's reprimands and hatred do not deter Jane from speaking up in the face of injustice.